Filter



Feb. 27, 1923.

R. T. LIGHTFOOT.

FILTER.

FILED MAR. 31, 192p.

oration.

RISE-KARE) T. LIGI-ETFOOT, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FILTER.

Application filed March 81, 1926.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, RICHARD T. LIGHT- roo'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Filter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for filtering liquids andl refers more particularly to a filter which can be readily attached to the domestic faucet so that the water sup plied through the faucet will be filtered before being used.

An object of the invention is to make provision for readily securing either filtered or unfiltered water.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is convenient to use and keep clean.

Another object is to make provision for convenient flushing out of the filter to clean the same.

Another object is to make provision for grinding or rubbing a substantial portion of the surface of the filtering element so as to clean said surface.

Another object is to make provision for easily attaching the filter to a faucet or pipe.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the filter, he same being shown attached to a faucet, a portion of the faucet being shown in section for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical mid section of the filter shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan section on line indicated by m m Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the filtering element.

There is provided a passage orchamber of suitable construction, in the drawings said chamber comprising a hollow internally tapered or frusto-conical body 1 and a de taehable cup or cover 2 which is screwthreaded at 3 onto the body 1. The smaller end of the body 1 is provided with or forms a nipple 1 which is preferably reduced outwardly and screw-threaded or otherwise roughened as indicated] at 5. Fitting tightly on the nipple'c and securely held thereon by the screwthreads 5 is a resilient bushing 6 constructed of rubber or other suitable terial. The normal external diameter of the Serial No. 370,153.

gushing 6 is slightly greater than the'inside diameter of the spout 7 of the faucet 8 or pipe to which the filter is to be attached so that when the bushing 6 is thrust into the spout T the bushing will be compressed to some extent and thus securely hold the chamber 1, 2 in place on the faucet. The bushing 6 seats against a shoulder a on the smaller end of the body 1 and said shoulder p l of greater diameter than the bi shing so that it will engage the faucet when the filter is attached thereto. It is understood that I do not limit the above described resilient connection to use with the hereinafter described other features of my new filter, since said connection may be used with filters having different features than those now to be described. Resting upon the cover or base 2 is a resilient gasket 9 of rubher or other suitable material, the margin of the gasket being interposed between the larger end of the body 1 and the inner face of the cover 2 so as to make a liquid-proof joint between the body and cover.

inside of the chamber 1, 2 is a movable filtering element 10 of frusto-conical shape 1nd of such length and diameters as to conform with and lit loosely in the larger end of the body 1, when in its lower position, and to fit tightly in the smaller end of said body, when in its upper position. When the filteringelen'ient 10 is in its lower position as in Fig. 2 the bottom face thereof rests upon the gasket 9 which thus serves as a seal to prevent leakage of liquid between the cap 2 and filtering element. It is clear that, when the filtering element 10 is raised from sealing contact with the gasket 9, liquid in the chamber 1, 2 can readily pass between thegasket and the filtering element.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the filtering element 10 so as to move it respectively away from and toward the gasket 9, and such means also include a discharge nozzle whereby the liquid may dis.- cherge from the chamber 1, 2 either when the filtering element is spaced from the gasket 9 or when said filtering element is seated upon said gasket and this construce tion will now be described.

The cover 2 forms a gland 1.1 of :1 stuffing box, the cover of the stuffing box being indicated at 12. Extending through the stuffing box is a tubular nozzle 13 provided near its upper end with a port or ports 14 adapted to communicate with the interior of the chamber 1, 2, when the nozzle 18 is raised. to space the "filtering element from the gasket 9. The lower end of the nozzle 13 may form or be provided with a disk shaped handle whereby the nozzle may be raised.

lowered or turned. The inner end of the tering element, and since the upper end of the nozzle 13 is open and terminates in the recess 19 it is clear that the liquid thus filtered passes from the recess 19 into the nozzle 13 so as to discharge from the lower end of said nozzle.

7 To apply the filter to the faucet, all that is necessary is to insert the resilient bushing 6 inthe spout 7 and press the same upward until the shoulder acomes into contact with the lower end of the spout. This securely fastens the filter in place on the faucet and the attaching of the filter can be effected without employing a plumber {or the purpose. In use, if it be desired to obtain filtered water, the waterbeing shut off the nozzle 13 will be pulled outwardly so as to lower the filtering element 10 into filtering position upon the gasket 9. The faucet handle will then be operated to turn on the water or other liquidand the water will pass through the nipple l intothe cham her 1, 2. The only outlet for the water, with the filtering element 10 in its filtering position, is through the pores of the filtering element and the water passes throu 'h said-pores to the recess 19, thence into t e nozzle 13 and discharges into whatever vessel is arranged to receive it.

If it .be desired to draw unfiltered water fI'Om'thB hydrant, the faucet handle will be operated to shut oil the water and the'nozzle 18will then be raised so as to space the filtering element 10 from the gasket 9. Then the faucet handle 20 will be operated to turn the wateron and the water will flow into the chamber and between the lower face of the filteringelement and gasket and discharge throughthe ports 14 into the nozzle 13 and from said nozzle into the receptacle placed to receive it.

It is clear that, when the filtering ele i-nent 10 is seated upon the gasket 9, the pressure of thewater tends to hold the filtering element tightly upon the gasket soasto preclude leakage of water between the bottom face of the filtering element and the gasket rea ers 9. It is also clear that when the filtering element 191's in the raised or non-filtering position the water from the faucet will act to wash oil wnatever accumulations of sediment may have been deposited on the surfaces ot the filtering element during the previous filtering operation, and this is one way ot cleaning said filtering element. lit understood that if the filtering element 10 not raised into non-filtering position't'or any other reason than to clean it, the householder will move it into such position "from time to time to efi'ect the washing ofi of the deposits or sediment from the filtering element.

After-the filter has been in service for some time, a certain amount of sediment maybe deposited in the pores of the filtering element at the surface or said element and therefore it may be advisable te grind ofi a small portion of the peripheral face orthe filtering element 10 tothoi'oughly cleanse said face. fected by pushing upward on the nozzle13 sufiiciently to bring the peripheral face-0t the filtering element 10 into contact with the inner face of the body 1. Then the operator will turn the nozzle 13 s o as to produce friction between the peripheral face of the filtering element 10' and the body 1. This friction is sufiicient to ruhoff peripheral 'ticles of the filtering element vthcr with such particles oi: sediment as collected in the pores near said surface so that the peripheral surface will be perfectly clean. The operator will then turn the water on so as to wash from the filter chamber the ground of? particles of the filtering element and deposits ofsediment.

. t is understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction shown in the drawings and described above. but that the inventioualso includes such changes and=modifications as lie withinthe spirit, and scope of the appendedclairns I claim:

1. A filter comprising an'internally .taper-ed chamber, a filtering element of frustoconical "form in the chamber adapted to fit loosely in the larger portion of the chamber when moved toward the larger end-thereof and adapted to closely fit the smaller por tion of the chamber when moved toward the smaller end thereof. a'recess in the larger of the filtering element a nozzle-having one end in the recess and meanswhereby turning of the nozzle will efiiect turning of the filtering element.

2. A filter comprising an internally taperedchamber. a filtering element offrustonical term in the chamber adapted {to .fit oselyiin the larger port-ion ofthe chamber hen moved toward the larger endthereof and adapted to closely fit the smaller-portion of the chamber when moved toward the The grinding operation is efrate ller end thereof, a recess in the larger oi the ltering element, and an endwise n o able nozzle having one end in the recess, cndwise movement of the nozzle causing shifting of the filtering element.

3. A filter comprising a chamber reduced toward one end and having 0 enings, a filtering element adapted to fit oosely in the larger portion of the chamber when moved toward the larger end thereof and to closely lit the smaller portion of th chamber when moved toward the smaller end thereof, and means to turn the filtering element to cause :inding thereof against the inner surface the chamber.

2 filter comprising a chamber reduced toward one end and having openings, a filtering element adapted to fit loosely in the larger portion of he chamber when moved toward the larger end thereof and to closely fit the smaller portion of the chamber when moved toward the smaller end thereof, and a nozzle extending through one of the chamlwr openings and rotatively engaging the nltering element, said nozzle being rotative.

S. A filter comprising a chamber having openings, one of said openings being at one end of tie chamber and a filtering element movable into different positions in the chamber and adapted when moved toward said end or" the chamber to form a valve closing the opening in said end, and means to move the filtering element into the difierent positions.

6. A filter comprising a chamber having into and out oi" engagement with the gasket.

8. In a filter, the combination or" chamber reduced toward one end and having openings, a filtering element in th chamber of smaller size than said chamber adapted to closely fit said reduced end, and means to move the filtering element to and from said reduced end and to turn said element to cause grinding thereof against the inner surface of the chamber.

9. in a filter, the combination of a chamber reduced toward one end and having openings, a filtering element in the chamber of smaller size than said chamber adapted to closely t said reduced end, and a rotative nozzle extending through one of the chamber openings and rotatably connected with the filtering element.

10. in a filter, the combination of a chamber reduced toward one end and having openings, a filtering element in the chamber of smaller size than said chamber adapted to closely fit said reduced end, and means extending through one of the openings operatablc to move the filtering element to and from said reduced end.

ll. In a filter, the combination of a chamber reduced toward one end and having openings, a hollow filtering element in the chamber of smaller size than said chamber adapted to closely fit said reduced end, and a nozzle having one end inserted in the recess of the filtering element and connected therewith and extending through one of the openings of the chamber, said nozzle movable endwise to force the filtering element into contact with said reduced end.

Signed at Les 2* ngeles, California, this th day of March, 1920.

RICHARD T. LIGHTFUOT.

Witness:

GEORGE H. HILES. 

